The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-04-06
Our Washington Letter.
From Our Own Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 5, 1887.

Since last wrote you the re1ed question
0: Interstate Commerce Commissioners has
been settled and the little army of ignored
applicants who waited in suspense for re-
,gnition from Il Presi lent has had to con-
tent itself as best it could. The five lawyers
selected for the new National Court have
been thoroughly dissected, discussed, view
ed from every standpoint and finally pro-
nonnced good. The Commission Will now
organize and enter upon it's duties.
The next trouble in connect on with it is
in finding home for the new bureau. That
devolvcs upon Secretary Lamar, and the In
terror Department is already over-crowded.
The President prom ounced the Constrnc-
ton of this Commission the most perple1ing
problem yet encountered by him IN his
present Office, and the universal praise az
corded to his selection gives him much graz:
ifcation, But the Commissioners cannot
fail to have hard time at best They are
good men and able men, but their laDors
will be coIaplex, comprehensive and exact
ing beyond description, and they have an
immense puzzle to work out in the new law.
jay Gould said It was good thing that tEey
were all lawyers. for they would get out OF
the law oil that was in it.
The effect of the new law upon Washing
ton will be to greatly increase the activity Of
the comming summer. A large bureau must
be rapidly organized clerical and official
force employed, and thousands Of persons
interested in questions coming before the
Commission will swoop down upon it even
before it is ready to receive them. The cler-
cal force Of the Interstate Commission will
not come under civil service rules. The
Commissioners could, it is said, p!2ce the
organization Of their clerical force ni:..r:
these rules, but it is not probable that they
| will voluntarily surrender the power of Sc
lection and appointment vested in them.
The Presiden IS next difficult task will be
to construct Commission to investigate the
| Pacific Railroads It is predicted that he
will have even more trouble in finding the
right men for these places than he had in
selecting the Interstate Commerce Commits
| sioners
1t is now regarded as settled fact that
Mr.. Fairchild, the Assistant Secretary, will
| be promoted to the Secretrystip of the
| treasurer, and that his appointment Will be
| officially announced this week. The selec-
| ton of Mr.. Fairchild is the outcome of an
interesting political experiment The Pres
i0ent declared his desire to wipe out Sec
tional preiudices in financial matters, by
the appointment of a popular leader OF his
party in the West or South, qualified to as
sumo the task.
The President was doubtless sincere in
his purpose, and endeavored to find popu-
willing to assume the responsibility OF COZ :
trolling the national finances for the next
two years. But he did not succeed. The
desired statesman either Was not found or
was not willing TO serve. and the President
after Offering to sacrifice personal preference
and to make an appointment in compliance
with political dictation, has returned to Mr..
Fairchild
The Kit Karson Post, G. R. B., held its
Doth anniversary campfire at the National
Rifles Armory few evenings ago, and the
Commissioner of Pensions, who was one OF
the Speakers charmed his hearers with his
eloouence The Soldier" was his subject
and the American volunteer soldier prooa.
bly, never was exhibited in NOR heroic
light than WAS turned upon him by General
Black.
This reminds me of On old soldiers recen'
good fortune. He had been private in an
indiana company, was totally bind
and destitute, and had been g regula,
visitor at the Pension Office every day fol
more than two months, so that the clerks II
the Office of the Chief Clerk, where he al
WAYS presented himsef had come to take
an interest in him.
One Monday morning he was rather late
making his appearance and said that he hao
about given up oil hope. But the Saturda,
before he had been granted all arrea-age G
more than $1,000, and the clerks gathered
around him to are how he would take tht
good news. Tears of JOY ran down the ole
mans hagsard, thin face, and lie rejoicee
and wept for nearly an hour. he had neve
dreamed of halt so much money before
After living for years on his pension OF 5;
q month, re was made q rich man. The lad,
clerks were SO much affected by the ole
man emotion that they wept with him ant
for time there was not dry eye IN tn
room.